Fluid-controlled signal-operating mechanism



` Aug. 12, 1924; 1,504,529

J. B. STROUD FLUID CONTROLLED SIGNAL OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 21 1923 2 Sheets-Sheep l J. B. STROUD FLUID CONTROLLED SIGNAL OPERATING MECHANISM Aug. 12, 1924.` Y 1,504,529

Filed July 2l 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. .12, 1924.

i# rrr-:D STATES JOHN BELL STROUD, 0F PASS CHRISTIAN, MISSISSIPPI.

. FLUID-CONTROLLED SIGNAL-OPERATING MECEANISM.

Application filed July 21, 1923. Serial No. 652,962.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BELL STROUD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pass Christian, Box No. 231, in the county of Harrison and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Controlled Signal-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in iuid controlled signal operating mechanism, and has for its object to provide mechanism of the character specified, adapted for use with semaphores, wherein wires form electrical lconnection with the electrical equipment of a railway locomotive, or the like; and wherein the fluid controlled operating mechanism is arranged below the floor of a locomotive tender or the like, and wherein the piston of the fluid controlled mechanism is so connected to the signal operating tubes and wires that when the piston is at one end of its travel the tubes and .wires will be in operative position with trolleys on cables, respectively; and when the piston is at the other end of its travel the tubes and wires will be in inoperative position with circuit broken. Wherein wires form electrical connection with generator on a railway locomotive and through contact means energize wires, forming connection with horn and lamp respectively, thus completing the circuit.

The invention is shown and described in a specific embodiment, to which, however, it is not to be restricted. The right is reserved to make such changes, or alterations, as the actual reduction to practice may suggest insofar as such lchanges or alterations are compatible in spirit with the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

.Figa 1 is a side elevation in dotted line of a locomotive tender and cab, with the operating mechanism of my invention under the floor thereof, and in full line the tubes and wires, the manner of their arrangement, with trolley in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a ground plan of Fig. 3 with trolleys in operative position on cables re-4 spectively with tender omitted.

Fig. 3 is an end view looking from the inside of locomotive tender showing trolleys on cables, supported on clamps, extending along the rails of the railway, respectively.

Fig. 4 is a ground plan of a grade crossing showing the semaphore base adjacent thereto and the arrangement of connecting wires. f

Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section of a semaphore set up showing the semaphore box, electric horn, and electric lamp therein,the supporting stand, the concrete base, the tube embedded therein and the manner of carrying wires through tube for connection with horn and lamp respectively.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view partly in section of Figs 2 and 3.

Fig. 7 is a sectional side view of a standard T rail with cable supporting member thereon, return bend in cable, and clamp bolts.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section of Fig. 7 on line 8, 8.

Similar numbers indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown, the invention is employed to give positive and definite warning at grade crossings of the immediate approach of a railway train.

Awcylinder 4 is connected with and under the floor of tender 3 by means of hangers 7 and 7, attached thereto, said hangers 7 and 'fr'a being placed near the ends of said cylinder Fig 1. The ends of cylinder are closed by heads 8 and 9 respectively, having threaded engagements with the cylinder. The cylinder has ports at its opposite ends and a four-way controlled valve 10 of ordinary construction is connected with the port by means of pipes 11 and 12and with the source of su l b means of pi e 13 in such manner tligtythI opposite ends ofthe cylinder will be alternately connected with the source of supply, and the atmosphere (Figs. `1 and 6) in such manner as usually obtains in similar equipment. The piston 14, has a rod 15 at the outer end of which and rigid therewith is a horizontally disposed bar 16, Fig. 6. Said bar has apertures at its respective ends adapted to receive duplicate flexible tubes 17 and 17a-set screws 36, Fig. 6 have threaded engagements with the respective ends of said bar 16 adapted to engage said duplicate flexible tubes and to retain said tubes in rigid engagement with the respective ends of said cross bar 16, Fig. 6. The respective ends of said flexible tubes depend over cables 23 and 23a and are adapted to receive, and retain rigid therewith, fork members 22 pivotally carrying trolleys 21 and 21a. Vires 20 and 20a form electrical connection with generator and lamp in locomotive cab, Fig. l; said wires enter said flexible tubes adjacent the respective ends of cross bar 16 and form connection with the stems of said fork members, carried on dependent ends of said flexible tubes. Trolleys 21 and 21a pivot in the fork of said members 22 carried on dependent ends of said flexible tubes and are adapted for electrical contact with cable 23 and 23a, supported on clamps 31, Figs. 7 and 8. 32, Fig. 7 indicates cover plates for return bend, 28, the purpose of said plates being to receive and hold return bend 28, Fig. 7, of cables 23 and 23a extending along rails 2, 2 supported on said clamps. Cables 23 and 23a are insulated at the return bend 28 adapted for a two-fold purpose, the flashing of lamp and intermittent sound of horn in semaphore box when contact members pass thereover, and to obviate contact of said members with said clamps, thus avoiding an electrical shortcircuit. The flashing of the lamp and intermittent sound of horn is obviously quicker to attract attention than a steady glow of lamp or a continuous sound of horn. Wires 24 and 24a, Fig. l, form connection with cables 23 and 23a and connect with horn and lamp respectively, Fig. 5, thus completing the circuit.

While trolleys 21 and 21a may be moved in and out of contact with cables 23 and 23a by occupant of the locomotive cab, obviously if said trolleys are left in the position indicated throughout the drawing from one Ywired section to another, the device then becomes automatic in its function.

Guide tubes 18 and 18a are adjustably disposed on hangers 19 and 19a, attached under floor of tender 3, Figs. 1 and 6, and are adapted to direct flexible tubes 17 and 17", with relation to their dependent ends to cables 23 and 23a, extending along the rails of the railway, said guide tubes being of such diameter as to admit the free movement of said flexible tubes therein to allow the bending and straightening of said flexible tubes with the upward and downward motion of said tender on its springs.

Semaphore box 1, Fig. 5, is square and preferably of sheet metal construction, the bottom being perforated toemit sound, the sides thereof are enclosed in glass-green glass viewed from the. railway and red glass viewed from the highway. The object of green to indicate the function of the signal operating mechanism to the occupant of an engine cab and the red to indicate danger to the driver of a vehicle. Said box is bolted to flanges having threaded engagement with pipe 25, said pipe threading into flange 9, bolted to concrete base, said bolts being imbedded in said base at the time of setting up the form. Tube 6 is likewise imbedded in said base and adapted to receive wires 24 and 24, having connection with cables 23 and 23L and forming connection in series with lamp and horn in said semaphore box set up at a grade crossing, thus completing the circuit from the electrical equipment on a railway locomotive or the like. The fixtures in said box are accessible through door locking flush with the walls thereof.

l. A fluid controlled signal operating mechanism for use with semaphores comprising a cylinder adapted to be arranged below the floor of a locomotive tender, a piston therein, means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the respective ends of the cylinder, a rod rigid with the piston and extending through the cylinder head; a cross bar rigid with the end of said rod and horizontally disposed with apertures at its respective ends, adapted to carry flexible tubes rigid therewith, wires forming electrical connect-ion with generator and lamp in locomotive cab, said wires passing into flexible tubes and forming connection with forked member carried on the dependent ends of said flexible tubes, trolleys pivotally connecting with said forked members adapted to connect with cables extending along the rails of a railway, clamp members rigid with-said rails, adapted to support said cables; wires forming connection with said cables and connecting with lamp and horn in a semaphore box set up at a grade crossing; means for flashing said lamp and means for intermittent sound of horn, substantially as described and for the purpose speci fied. Y

2. A fluid controlled signal operating mechanism for use with semaphores comprising a cylinder adapted to be arranged below the floor of a locomotive tender, a piston thereon, means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the respective ends of the cylinder, a rod rigid with the piston and extending through the cylinder head; a cross bar rigid with the end of said rod and horizontally disposed with apertures at its respective ends, adapted to carry flexible tubes rigid therewith, wires forming electrical connection with generator and lamp in locomotive cab, said wires passing into flexible tubes and forming connection with forked member carried on the dependent ends of said flexible tubes, trolleys pivotallyv connecting with said forked members adapted to contact with cables extending along the rails of a railway, Contact means carried by dependent means adapted to energize cables extending along the rails of a railway; means adapted to energize Wires forming connection With said cables and connecting with horn and lamp in semaphore box respectively set up at a grade crossing; means to flash said lamp and means for the intermittent sound of said horn substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

JOHN BELL STROUD. Witnesses:

REBEL-L1A H. BRANDT STROUD, ANNA M. BRANDT. 

